The dilemma of nearly 50,000 Penang MIC members over having to deal with two state party 'daddies' is expected to be a hot topic for debate at the state MIC annual convention next month.

Party grassroots leaders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said branch leaders were expected to question the wisdom of the national leadership for appointing state MIC secretary PK Subbaiyah as the party's sole state executive councillor while retaining Dr K Rajapathy as Penang MIC chairperson after the last general election.

This has created a dilemma among party members on having to deal with two state party bosses or 'daddies' as they are referred to by the grassroots.

The grassroots leaders felt that the national leadership should have replaced Rajapathy ( photo ) with Subbaiyah as the state party chief or maintained the status quo by retaining Rajapathy as state executive councillor.

"Either way the situation would have been easier for the members, unlike now," said a branch leader.

Rajapathy was MIC executive councillor in the state cabinet between 1995 and 2004 until Subbaiyah replaced him.

President blamed

As a result of the two 'daddies' dilemma, Penang MIC is now split by factionalism based on personality politics.

The supporters of both leaders blame the national leadership, notably party president S Samy Vellu for the matter.

"Never before has Penang MIC been so divided by factionalism and internal rifts like now," said a local branch leader.

Although local leaders are expected to raise the issue at the convention, to be held on April 9, political observers, however, said the party leadership is expected to rebuke the criticism and maintain the status quo.

"It's always the case with MIC that the president would decide everything, not the members," said a party insider.

Besides the two 'daddies' issue, other topics such as lack of job offers and promotion opportunities in the public sector, house ownership, business opportunities and cohesive socio-economic policies to benefit Penang Indians and poor condition of Tamil schools are expected to feature prominently at the convention.

According to a study carried out by the Socio-Economic Research Institute (Seri) in 1998 -1999, 70 percent of the 160,000 Penang Indians were living in squatters or rental homes.

The study reported that a majority of Indians were low income earners and do not have enough money to even pay the 10 percent deposits to purchase low-cost houses.

Demonstrate solidarity

At last year's convention, MIC members passed a resolution demanding the state government to immediately implement comprehensive and constructive development programmes to assist Indians to overcome their socio-economic problems.

Until today, however, claimed many MIC leaders , the state government had failed to implement any programmes or initiate pro-active steps to improve the living standards of Penang Indians.

The performance of Subbaiyah as the new executive councillor will also come under the microscope as members are divided on whether or not he had been effective and decisive.

Several MIC leaders blamed the lack of unity among leaders and members, the absence of ideas and dynamic young leaders, as the main reasons behind the party's incapability and inability to table a strong case to the Gerakan-led state government to fulfill the party demands.

"Perhaps the national leadership should use the convention to demonstrate the party solidarity and seriousness to force the state government to assist the Indians to upgrade their standard of living.

"Otherwise, the convention would only be a waste of time," they said.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini 's Penang-based stringer.